Folding and wrapping machine



Jan. 2, 1934. G. .1. EGENOLF 1,941,544

FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Y Original Filed April 20, 1929 8Sheets-Sheet l Envcntor 23 WA [W W attorney- 1934- G. J. EGENOLF FOLDINGAND WRAPPING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttomeg5.

* WLW Original Filed April 20, 1929 Jan. 2, 1934. G. J. EGENOLF FOLDINGAND WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan.2, 1934. G. J. EGENOLF FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Cntornegl,

G. J. EGENOLF Jan. 2, 1934.

FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 20, 1929 8Sheets-Sheet 5 I W dttorncgS,

Jan. 2, 1934. G. J. EGENOLF FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet6 Original Filed April 20, 1929 Jan. 2, 1934. GJ. EGENOLF FOLDING ANDWRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 20, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 iiiPatented Jan. 2, 1934 FOLDING AND WRA BPI'NG LMACHINE George I. Egenolf,Indianapolis, 'Ind., .ass'ignor to a The IL. MacDaniel Printing Company,:In 'diana'polis, Ind, a corporation Original application April 20,1929, Serial No. 356,684. Divided and this application January 5, 1931.Serial No. 506,782

-4Claim's. (Cl. 93-2) This invention relates to amachine for'foldingarticles, such aspaperor cloth-and sealing the same inapredeterminedmanner. More particularly it relates to the folding andsealing of strips of paper containing printed information which isto bekept:secret untilthe sealtis broken and other printed material which .isto be-exposed. The present application .is a division of applicationSerial No. 356*,6'84'filedaAprilQO, =l929, which has I matured intoPatent Number1.787.81 issued January'fi, 1931.

In the popular parlor :game-of Ask -Me .-Another, pieces of paper areusually'preparedhaving -a question of general interest .printed' on anexposed portion and the answertheretmprinted on a folded portion notexposed to view=until-an answer has been attempted by one-of thaplayersof the game. The object. of the present-invention is tosupply a machinewhich automatically 'folds and seals printed slips of paper containingthe questions and answers so thatthesemay-be placed on the marketat areasonable cost.

While the above isthe specific object of :the present invention, itisipossi-ble --to use .the invention r for other purposes-as forexample, folding and sealing payrollcheclcs sothatithe name of the payeeis visible and the amountof the check is invisible. The'inventiommay-also be used where" no visiblematteristobe-eXposed-as forexample, folding and sealing circulars for mailing or folding andsealing handkerchiefs or wash cloths :for sale. Accordingly. although.the following specifications aredrawn to I a machine a for folding.small slipsof papenit-istobeunderstood that the-invention isnot-limited :to the specific form'hereindisclosed. I

Onefeature of the invention resides in the novel form of apparatus usedtoremovethearticles to. be folded from a :storage magazine-and placethem in. position forioldimg.

Another feature of the inventionresides in the novel apparatus usedtosupply the sealingmaterial in timed relation with the folding operation.

Another feature resides in th6 1'lOVB1;f0Im'-Of sealingmechanism used. 7I 7 Another feature resides .in the'novel arrangement of parts-whereina'll -the-motions araprop- 50 erly controlled 'to-occurdn timed relationtoeffect theresultdesired.

The full nature of :-the invention and other features thereof will-beunderstood. from the accompanying drawings and the followingspecificationsand claims:

Fig. 1:is anelevationalview'of one side of the complete "machine. Fig.2-1is anwelevationalwiew of .the opposite side .of the complete machine.Fig. 3 is-a plan view of the top-oi the machine. Fig. 4 is a.plan viewof the driving :shafts and cams usedto impart the desired'motions tothevarious parts. Fig. 5 .isa sectional view of the mechanism used toremove the ;papers from the magazine and a .part'of the foldingmechanism. Figs. 6, -7 and 8 are'detailed 'elevational .views of the:folding mechanism at various positions in the folding operation. :Fig.:9 I is. an elevational view of the storage magazine and :associatedparts. Fig. 1 0 .is:acentral section throughzthe folding and cuttingmechanisms. :Fig. 11 is a central section through :the sealingaand:wrapping mechanism. Fig. l2 isa detailed viewof the operating mechanismfor one of the .wrapping elements. 'Fig. '13 is a plan view of -a;partof-themechanism-of:Fig. 1'1. -Fig..14-is aperspective view of certainparts of the folding mechanism in disassembled relation. Fig. 115 is aperspective-view of the same parts in assembled relation,

Referring to the drawings, aplurality of legs supportan :upperdeck-member 21, an intermediate deck member-22and a lower deck member23.An electric. motor 24=is mounted on .the lower deck-member23 and carrieson: itsshaft 25 a pinion 26' and: a .pulley .27. 'A second shaft .28carries spur gear-29 meshing with-the pinion 26 and pulley-30. .Mountedon the-.intermediate deck member :22 are.-four .-shafts,-i3l, 32, 33 and34 carried onsuitablebearings-35. Three pairs of bevel gears36constitute: adriving connection :between the-four shafts. A-pulley-3'7is mounted on-shaft 31-and is driven from the pulley .by a belt-38. Thefour :'shafts 31, 32, -33 and 34 carry a; plurality of cams which are.used to impart -.the.desired motions .to the various .parts'of the.machine, as will be hereinafter described.

A; hand lever A4 is fixedly: connected 1 tea pin :rotatably supported'on .one .of the legs 20. Eastened .tothe-inner end :of the pin 45 isalever arm 46 and rotatably mounted thereon is :an idler pulley 47adapted to engage the belt 38. Alever 48 is pivotedto one of the legs 20at point 49. A series of notches50"in' the lever 48 engage a tooth 151-carried. on the hand lever-44.

;To :start the operation of :the machine :after the motor .24 hasbeenstarted, the hand lever is drawn to therightasrepresented in-Fig.v2, thereby tightening -the= belt 38. The hand'leverlis heldin therunning-position byttheengagement of the tooth 51 with the notches dueto the weight of the lever 48. To stop the machine, the lever 48 islifted and the hand lever 44 is moved to the left loosening the belt.

A hand wheel 52 on the shaft 31 allows small movements of the machine tobe made by hand when the machine is stopped. This is used foradjustments, etc.

Magazine Carried on the intermediate deck 22 there is a magazineconsisting of a base casting 53 and a plurality of upright members 54delineating a rectangular space suitable to receive a pile of the slipsof paper 55 which are to be folded and sealed.

A vertical screw shaft 56 is supported on bearings 57 and 58 carriedrespectively on the casting 53 and one of the vertical members 54. Apair of members 59 and 69 are adapted to clamp about the screw shaft 56and are threaded to travel longitudinally of the shaft when the cam isrotated. A stem 61 passes through both of said members and is fastenedto member 59 by means of set screw 62. A spring 63 is interposed betweenprojecting ends of said members and normally maintains them in clampingrelation with respect to the screw shaft 56. A platform 64 is supportedby the stem 61 within the magazine and is adapted to carry the pile ofpapers 55 to be folded. By this construction a rotation of the screwshaft raises or lowers the platform 64 and the pile of papers thereon.By squeezing together the extending ends of the members 59 and againstthe action of the spring 63 the said members may be disengaged from thescrew shaft 56 and the pile of papers raised or lowered by hand.

Mounted on the lower end of the screw shaft 56 is a bevel gear 65meshing with a bevel gear 66 carried on a pin 67 supported on a bearingin the casting 53. Fixedly carried on the pin 67 is a ratchet wheel 68.A bell crank 69 is rotatably carried on the pin 67 and carries on onearm a spring pawl '70 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 69. Pivotallyattached to the other arm of the bell crank 69 is a rod 71 which isactuated for reciprocal motion by an eccentric 72 carried on the shaft32. By this construction the rotation of shaft 32 causes the ratchetwheel to be advanced one tooth for each cycle of the machine, therebyrotating the pin 6'7 and the screw shaft 56 to raise the pile of papersa given distance. The sizes of the teeth of the ratchet wheel areselected to give an amount of lift to the pile of paper sufiicient tomaintain the top of the pile at a practically constant level as thepapers are removed therefrom for folding.

Pivotally mounted on the casting 53 is a hand lever 73 carrying an arm'74 at one end. A second spring pawl 75 is pivotally mounted on the endof the arm 74 to engage the ratchet wheel 68. By the operation of thehand lever the ratchet wheel may be turned by hand through smalldistances to adjust the pile of papers to the proper height.

Mechanism for moving papers from magazine to folding station Adjacentthe upper end of the magazine is a suction block 76 having passageways'77 therein connected to a flexible conduit 78. The conduit 78 isconnected to a port 79 of a valve 80 and a second port 31 of said valveis connected by means of a conduit 82 to the intake of a rotary suctionblock 76.

suction pump 83. The pump is driven from the pulley 27 by means of abelt 84 and discharges through a conduit 85 to the atmosphere. By meansof this construction the topmost paper in the pile will adhere to thesuction block when the said suction block is placed thereon and when thevalve 80 is open.

The valve 80 is operated by means of a plunger 86 having port 8'?therein adapted to register with the ports 79 and 81 when the plunger isin one 85 position and to be out of registry with said ports when theplunger is in another position. A roller 88 is carried on one end of theplunger 86 and is maintained in contact with the rear surface of a cam89 by means of a spring 90. The cam 89 is carried on the shaft 34 androtated thereby. The said surface of the cam has a projecting portion 91adapted to engage the roller during a part of the rotation of the cam,thereby closing the valve. When the said roller is not in engagementwith the projecting portion 91, the valve will be open. A pin 42 carriedin the housing of the valve 80 projects into a groove 43 in the plunger86 thereby preventing rotation of said plunger.

The suction block 76 is carried on the end of a lever 92 which ispivoted at 93 to the top of a substantially vertical lever 94. The lowerend of the lever 94 is pivotally mounted in a bearing 95 carried on theintermediate deck member 22. Pivotally mounted on the lever 94 is aroller 96 adapted to be guided in a channelway 97 of irregular shape inthe face of the cam 89.

Pivotally carried on the lever 94 is a lever 98, to one end of which ispivotally connected a 116 rod 99, the opposite end of which is pivotedat 100 to an extension of the lever 92 carrying the A roller 101 ispivotally attached at the joint between the lever 98 and rod 99 androlls upon an irregular surface 102 carried on the cam 89. A spring 103is attached at one end to an extension of the lever 98 and at theopposite end to the lever 94 and serves to normally maintain the roller101 in contact with the irregular surface 102.

In the operation of this mechanism the lever 94 is caused to oscillateabout its pivot point 95 by the action of the cam 89 upon the roller 96.The oscillation of this lever imparts a substantially horizontaloscillation to the suction block 76. The action of the irregular surface102 upon the roller 101 acting through the rod 99 and the lever 92causes substantially vertical reciprocating movements of the suctionblock 76.

By a combination of these motions with the operation of the valve 80occurring in proper sequence, the topmost paper is removed from the pileby the the suction block and placed on a pair of receiving plates 104and 105. The paper is held in place on said plates by mechanism to behereinafter described while the valve 80 is closed and the suction blockreturned to the top of the pile.

Folding mechanism A groove 106 is cut in the top of upper deck 21 and ispartially covered by the receiving plates 104 and 105. The said platesare spaced apart leaving a space 107 therebetween. A reciprocatingmember 108 is slidably mounted in groove 106 on guide members 109attached at the edges of said groove to the deck plate 21. A pair ofgrooves 108-a (Fig. 14) in the upper surface of said reciprocatingmember 108 carry two portions 110 of a second reciprocating member. The153 two portions-1'10 are joined together at one en'c'l by a cross piece111 and at the opposite end by a cross piece 112 (see Fig. 3) having a"downweirdly-projecting portion 113 (see Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 10) Themembers 110 are longer than-the reciprocating member 108 and are freefor longitudinal movementwithrespectto said member 108. longitudinalmovement is limited by the cross pieces 111 and 112. The'retainingslotslOB-e for membersllO are covered at one endof the member 108 by aplate 142 fastened to thereciprocating member 108 and having a portion143 projecting beyond the end thereof. A leaf spring 114' is fixed tothe underside of the same end of the reciprocating member 108'andcarries an upraised portion 115 in contact withthe members 110. Thedepth of the members 110 is'l'e's's' than the depth of their retainings'l'ot's 108'"-"a andthe leaf spring 114 serves to normally maintainsaid members 110 in the upper portion of said slots in contact with thecover plate 142.

The reciprocating member 108 has a portion 116 extending downwardlythrough an opening 117 in the upper deck 21. A link "1 18 is pivotallyfastened to said downwardly-extending portion 116 and is pivotallyfastened at its opposite end to theupper endof a substantially verticallever 119. The lever 119 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on abearing 120 carried on the intermediate deck 22. A roller 121 is mountedon said lever 119 in a position intermediate of its endsand is adaptedto be guided in an irregularlyshaped channelway 122 in one faceof a cam123. The cam 123 is mounted upon shaft 33 and is rotated thereby. Bythis construction the rotation of shaft 33 causes the reciprocation ofthe member 108.

Mounted on the shaft 32 and rotated thereby is a cam 124 having anirregularly-shaped giiideway 125 in one of its faces. A substantiallyvertical member 126 carrries at its lower end a yoke 127 adapted tostraddle the shaft 32. A roller 128 is also carried on said member 126and is adapted to be guided in said irregular channel;- way 125. Theupper end of the member 126 is guided in a bushing 129 carried in thedeck plate 21. The rotation of cam 124, therefore, causes verticalreciprocating motion of member'1'26 controlled by the shape of theirregular channelway 125.

The upper end of the member 126 carries a member 130. A member 131,having a projecting tongue 132, is slidably supported in said member130. A downwardly-projecting stem 133 is atta'ched to said member 131and extends through opening 134 in the upper deck member '21. A

bell crank 135 is pivotally mounted on the undersurface of the deckplate 21. The stem 133 promember '131 with respect to the member 130which is controlled by the shape of the channelway 139 independently ofthe vertical movements ofthe member 130.

In the operation of the folding apparatus, the reciprocating member 108is moved to the posi- 'tion shown 'in Figs. 3 and 6. In this position,

the-cresspiece"1'11 isin con'tact with a step 141 carried ih'tl-iegroove 106. The-opposite ends of themenibers "110-"are therebypositioned beneath the opening 107' between'receiving plates 104 and105-. 'I' heend-of'reciprocating member 108 and the projecting portion143 of the plate 142 are weaved beneath "the receiving "plate 104. Thetongue- 1821s located in *a raised position adjacent the space 107 asbest shown in the plan view Fig. 3-and in Figs; f and 6. With the partsin this position, the suo't'ion' tilock76 places a paper 145 upon thereceiving plates 104' and 105. The tongue 132 is "moved horizontally byits cam through an-opening 144 in the suction block -to aposit-ionabovea :portion "of the paper 145-, see Fig. 6. 'Therneniber 126 thenmoves downward carrying the tongue l3 2through the opening 167 to theposition shown in Fig. "I. The tongue, therefore, preventsthe adherence"of the paper to the suetien block "when the latter returns to themagazine.

The movementef the tongue 132 through the space TOT-brings a portion ofthe paper in con-- tact with *the members 110 and causes the saidmembers to move downwardly against the action of rear spring 114. Inthis position, the upper suriaceof the tongue 132 is below theprojecting member 1 423". The reciprocating member 108 is now moved tothe position shown in Fig. *8 and the proi'jeoting *member l43'f-therebyfolds the end 1 46 of the paper over "the tongue 132. The tongue -I3 2'isthen withdrawn horizontally and the raised por'tiond f the paper isheld in contact with the-lower surfaceof the projecting member 14'3 bythe acti'onof "the leaf spring 114. Further motion "of the reciprocatingmember 108 folds the ends 147 and 148 of-thepaper-over the projectingmember 143 and under the receiving plate 105 ton. 'positionas-shown'inFig. 16. Thu's,'a single continuous 'motion of the reciprocating member108 combined with the timed motion 'of the tongue 1 -3 2 folds the paperinto four layers and Ieav'esa projecting end 149 unfolded. By properlychoosing the sizes of the opening 107 and the location of the paperplaced thereon, the sizeof the folds may be made as desired. Ifdesirable, the paper may be folded without a projeeting un'foldedend.

Wrapping material supply I A standard 150 "is "mounted on the upper deck21 and carries a reel 151 upon which is supporteda Toll of paper 152"used for wrapping thefolded papers. A flexible strap 153 is fastened atone end of "the standard 150, passes around the roll of paper 152 andcarries at its otherend'a weight 154. This serves as afriction braketopr'event too rapid unwinding of the roll. Ap'aste reservoir 155contains a supply of paste 156. One of the paste'reservoir is closed bya paste roller "157 having raised andknur-led portions 158. secondroller 159 is located beneaththe roller 157. One end 160 of the paperfrom the roll is threaded beneath a roller 161 l'oeated'under the pastereservoir and thence betwe'enthe rollers 15-7 and 159 'an'd'thencebetween anotherpair of rollers 162and 163. 7

Each of the knurled portions 158 on the roller 15''! carries a'film of.pas'teto 'the'paper. The said knurled portions may be locatedso'that'the paste is placed on the paper in strips at any desiredposition. Herein-three strips-of paste are used,-- one in the center andone at each edge of the paper. 'The roller 162 carries raised portions164 adapted to contact with the. paper in the space between the stripsof paste. The said roller is mounted in bearings slidably carried on aportion of frame members 166. An adjustable spring 167 abuts againsteach of the bearings 165 and serves to maintain the roller 162 inyielding contact with the paper. The rollers 157 and 163 are connectedby a train of gears 168 to rotate in opposite directions and with thesame peripheral velocity.

The roller 157 is carried on a shaft 169 which also carries apair ofratchet wheels 170 and 171 fixed thereto. Rotatably mounted on saidshaft is a bell crank 172 carrying on one of its arms a spring pawl 173adapted to contactwith ratchet wheel 1'70. The opposite arm of the bellcrank 172 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertical member174 which carries at its lower end a yoke 175 adapted to straddle theshaft 31. A cam 176 is mounted on shaft 31 and rotated thereby andcarries in its face an irregular channelway 177. A roller 178 is mountedon the member 174 and is guided within the said channelway. By thisconstruction, rotation of shaft 31 causes vertical reciprocation of themember 174 and thereby causes rotationof the rollers 157 and 162 througha given distance for each cycle of the machine. The rotation of the saidrollers couses the paper 160 to be drawn from the reel and the size ofthe ratchet teeth on ratchet 170 is selected to draw the proper quantityof paper for each cycle to wrap one of the folded papers.

Rotatably carried on the shaft 169 is a hand lever 179 carrying a springpawl 180 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 171. By means of this handlever, the rollers may be manually rotated for threading in the paper orfor adjustments.

Cutoff mechanism Adjacent to the rollers 162 and 163 there is a member181 slidable in vertical guideways 182 which form a part of framemembers 166. The

vis adjustable by means of nuts 188 on the stem 184 at its point ofconnection with lever 185. A cam 189 is carried on the shaft 32 androtated thereby and carries in one face an irregular channelway 190. Themember 187 carries at its lower 3 and a yoke 191 adapted to straddleshaft 32. A

roller 192 is also carried by said member 18'. and is positioned withinthe channelway and guided thereby. By this construction, the rotation ofshaft 32 causes alternate raising and lowering of the member 181 and theknife blade 282 carried thereby and the timing of this motion isdetermined by the shape of the guideway 190.

In the operation of the cutoff mechanism, the knife blade is in theraised position when the rollers 157 and 162 are rotated to advance thestrip of paper 160. The rotation of these rollers places the paperbetween the knife blade 182 and a cooperating member 193. Thereafter,the lowering of the knife blade cuts off the proper length to wrap oneof the folded papers.

Sealing mechanism length; At each side of the opening 196, there is anupraised portion 197 of the member 195 of the shape shown in Fig. 11.The member 195 is reciprocated by means of a earn 198 having anirregular guideway 200 engaging a roller 201 carried on a lever 202which is pivotally mounted on a bearing 203 carried on the intermediatedeck member 22. The upper end of the lever 202 is connected by a link204 to a downwardly-extendingportion 205 of the member 195.

' A vertically-movable member 206 is guided in an opening in the upperdeck 21 and projects within the opening 196 in the reciprocating member195' The member 206 is operable for vertical movement by means of a cam207 carried upon shaft 31 and having an irregular channelway 208. Aroller 209 engages said channelway and iscarried on one arm of the bellcrank 210 pivotally mounted on a bearing 211 supported on the undersideof the upper deck member 21. The opposite arm of the bell crank 216 ispivotally conne-cted to the lower end of the member 206.

A reciprocating member 212 has one end positioned between the portions197 of the member 195 and has an irregularly-shaped portion 213extending to a point beneath the upper deck 21. The portion 213terminates in a member 214 pivot'ally carried upon an arm 215 of lever216. The said'lever is pivotally mounted on the underside of the upperdeck 21 and has a downwardly-extending portion 217 carrying a roller 218engaging in" an irregular channelway 219 in the periphery of a cam 220.'The cam 220 is mounted on the shaft 31and is rotatable thereby. Bymeans of this construction, a reciprocating motion is imparted to themember 212 controlled by the shape of thechannelway 219. A cover plate221 covers a portion of the groove 194 in which the member 212 operatesand maintains the said member therein.

Mounted on the upper deck 21 at one edge of the'groove 194 is a guidemember 222 carrying transverse members 223 in turn carrying a guidemember 224. The guide member 222 is of greater depth than the guidemember 224 so that a space is left between member 224 and the surface ofthe deck member 21. A reciprocating member 225 is guided between theguide members 222 and 224; One end of the reciprocating member 225 is.pivotallyconnected to a lever 226 pivotally mounted in a bearing 227carried on the intermediate deck member 22. The lever 226 carries aroller 228 engaging an irregular surface 229 carried on the cam 189. Aspring 230 is attached at one end of the lever 226 and at the other endto the underside of the upper deck 21 and serves to maintain the roller228 in contact with the irregular surface 229.

In the operation of the sealing apparatus, the

rollers 157 and 162 are first rotated to deliver the proper length ofwrapping paper in position for cutting; The knife blade is then lowered,cutting off the length of paper which is thereafter held in position onthe reciprocating member 195 by the wing members 183. The reciprocatingmembers 212 and 225, at this instant, are in the position illustrated'inFig. 11. The piece of wra ping paper is therefore pressed between thesereciprocating members by the wingmembers 183 and the ends 232 and 233 ofthe paper are upwardly bent as illustrated in the said figure. Thecontinued movement of the reciprocating member 108after the folding ofthe papers brings the member 113into contact with the member 195stopping the travel of members 110. Since members 110 are reciprocablein their grooves 108a, the member 108 is not stopped by the stopping ofmembers 110. Further movement of member 108 positions the folded paperbetween the wing members 183 and above and in contact with the wrappingpaper 231. In the motion of the reciprocating member 108, the foldedpaper is prevented from slipping by the action of leaf spring 114against the members 110 which holds the paper in contact with theprojecting member 143 until the travel of members 110 is stopped.

After the folded paper has been placed in position for sealing, theknife blade and wing members are raised and the reciprocating members212 and 225 are successively operated to fold the ends 232 and 233 ofthe wrapping paper over the folded paper. The reciprocating member 225is divided at the operating end into two portions 234 (see Fig. 13) andthe operating end of member 212 is positioned to pass therebetween. Thesaid members have sufi'icient flexibility to exert a downward pressureon the papers to cause the paste to adhere strongly thereto.

Carried on the receiving plate 105 is a leaf spring 235 having adownwardly-inclined serrated end 236. During the folding of the wrappingpaper, the member 206 is raised to bring a portion of the unfolded end149 of the folded paper in contact with the said serrated edge. Thereciprocating member 108 is then retracted and the folded and sealedpaper is prevented from returning therewith by its contact with the saidserrated edge. After the retraction of the said member 108, member 206is lowered to break the said contact.

After the retraction of the member 108, the reciprocating member 195 isactuated to bring the portions 197 thereof into contact with the foldedand sealed paper and to remove the same from the sealing position.During this motion, a projecting portion 237 of the lever 202 comes incontact with a portion of the lever 226 and causes the simultaneousretraction of the member 225. This movement is followed by the return ofall of the reciprocating parts to the initial position shown in Fig. 11.

A latch member 238 is mounted on one of the guide members 182. By meansof screws 239 and slotted holes 240, the latch member is free forvertical movement of limited distance. A small spring 241 normallymaintains the lower end of the latch member in contact with the surfaceof reciprocating member 195. The lower end of the member 238 projectsthrough the opening between the portions 234 of the member 225 and is soshaped that a folded paper may be passed thereunder in one direction butwill be prevented from returning with the return motion of thereciprocating member 195.

The motion of the member 195 in removing a folded and sealed paper fromthe sealing station carries the said paper beneath the member 225 to apoint beyond the latch 238. Successive papers thus removed force thepreceding papers ahead of them until they are successively dischargedinto a container 242 carried on the edge of the upper deck member 21.The unfolded projecting ends 149 of the papers pass between the guidemember 224 and the upper deck surface. A second spring latch arrangement243 carried in a cavity in reciprocating member 195 also prevents returnof papers with said member after they have passed the first latch 238.

The invention claimed is:

1. A folding and sealing machine including a deck plate having a groovetherein, reciprocating article wrapping members operating in saidgroove, article folding mechanism positioned at one side of said groove,wrapping material supply and cut-off mechanism positioned at theopposite side of said groove, and mechanism for operating said foldingmechanism and said supply and cut-off mechanism to deliver a foldedarticle and wrapping material therefor to said wrapping members in timedrelation.

2. A folding and sealing machine including a deck plate having a groovetherein, reciprocating article wrapping members operating in saidgroove, article folding mechanism positioned at one side of said groove,wrapping material supply and cut-off mechanism positioned at theopposite side of said groove, mechanism for operating said foldingmechanism and said supply and cutoff mechanism to deliver a foldedarticle and wrapping material therefor to said wrapping members in timedrelation, and a plurality of simultaneously rotatable cams positionedbeneath said deck plate for operating said mechanism.

3. A folding and sealing machine including a deck plate having a groovetherein, reciprocating article wrapping members operating in saidgroove, article folding mechanism positioned at one side of said groove,wrapping material supply mechanism positioned at the opposite side ofsaid groove, and mechanism for operating said folding mechanism and saidsupply mechanism to deliver a folded article and wrapping materialtherefor to said wrapping members in timed relation.

4. A folding and sealing machine including a deck plate having a groovetherein, reciprocating article wrapping members operating in saidgroove, article folding mechanism positioned at one side of said groove,wrapping material supply mechanism positioned at the opposite side ofsaid groove, mechanism for operating said folding mechanism and saidsupply mechanism to deliver a folded article and wrapping materialtherefor to said wrapping members in timed relation, and a plurality ofsimultaneously rotatable cams positioned beneath said deck plate foroperating said mechanism.

GEORGE J. EGENOLF.

